52.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to encourage the use of canals for freight.
53.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to encourage the use of canals for freight.
The Government have undertaken to look sympathetically at any proposals brought forward by the British Waterways board for development of freight transport on the inland waterways.On 8 September last year my right hon. Friend approved the board's proposals for improving the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation at a cost of some £10 million.Work is in hand in the Department, in consultation with the Department of Transport, in fulfilment of the duty placed on the Secretary of State in the Transport Act 1978 to promote a national policy for the use of inland waterways for commercial transport.